October 11, 2024 | Jennifer McDougall

Life In Elizabethan England


The Most Intriguing Queen And The Most Intriguing Era?

From 1558 to 1603, Elizabeth I wielded the scepter over England and Ireland. After many years of conflict, her reign was one of relative peace. A determined redhead like her father, she often referred to herself as the “Lion’s Cub”.

EEgallery1.jpg

The Controversial Daughter Of A Controversial King

Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn. You may recall that Anne was the queen who was executed when her hubby’s wandering eye landed on Lady Jane Seymour.

How did Elizabeth I, who was considered illegitimate, end up as queen?

A portrait of Queen Elizabeth IGeorge Gower, Wikimedia Commons

All The Death That Got Her There

When Henry VIII died in 1547, Elizabeth I was third in line for the throne. Edward, first in line, ruled until his life ended at age 15 in 1553. Next was Elizabeth’s half-sister, Mary, who they believe suffered from ovarian cancer. Then the throne belonged to Elizabeth I.

A portrait of Edward VI of EnglandWilliam Scrots, Wikimedia Commons

The People Mostly Liked Her

Having a female in charge of the country was new for England and Ireland. Despite being a woman, the people mostly admired and respected their Queen. She was a powerful leader with a “sharp tongue”.

Portrait Of Queen Elizabeth I Of EnglandEnglish School, Wikimedia Commons

The Elizabethan Era Begins

When you think of Elizabethan England, what do you envision? Do you think of Helen Mirren in the miniseries Elizabeth I? Yes, the one where she’s sporting enough pearls to extinct the oceans of marine oysters?

An engraving of Queen Elizabeth ICrispijn van de Passe the Elder, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

I’m The King Of The Castle And You’re The…

Maybe you’re envisioning castles, eel-filled moats and stunning gardens filled with plate-sized roses. Or maybe now you’re just thinking of dirty rascals.There were a few of those, too.

Queen Elizabeth I of England in her coronation robesAfter Levina Teerlinc, Wikimedia Commons

Roses Are Red

Speaking of roses: Perhaps poetry comes to mind.

The Elizabethan Era in England was known as a time of Renaissance when many poets and writers penned sonnets.

Renaissance literature in Elizabethan EnglandUniversity of Glasgow Library, Flickr

Writers Galore

You may have heard of writers Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Kyd, Edmund Spenser or, perhaps, William Shakespeare.

William Shakespeare portrait  in brown shirtBatyrAshirbayev98, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Shakespeare Dude

I’m sure you may know a little something about England’s most famous playwright, William Shakespeare. He’s believed to have written 38 plays. With the Queen's patronage of the arts, the Elizabethan Era was the perfect time for him and his work to flourish.

Shakespeare Window in MelbourneCrisco 1492, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Theater Was A Big, Big Deal

Elizabethan England is known as “the great age of theater”.

Playhouses in those days were like today’s pop-up shops. They were showing up everywhere! The city of Shoreditch, however, boasted the first permanent playhouse in England.

Costumes of the Elizabethan EraUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons

They Built The Theater—Literally

With a hefty investment from his brother-in-law, James Burbage built the first non-temporary playhouse structure in 1576. He christened it "The Theater"—and he also acted on its stage.

Elizabethan Theatre nowadaysAmy Richard, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Even The Poor Could Go

Imagine getting to watch a theatrical production for only a penny. You could if you were willing to stand and watch. If you had money, you paid for a seat with a cushion.

In Elizabethan England, theater was accessible to anyone and everyone. It was the Renaissance, after all.

Shakespeare's Globe - TheatreWally Gobetz, Flickr

Wait, What Exactly Does Renaissance Mean?

Renaissance means revival. Linguistically it comes from the French word "naissance," which means birth.

It was a time of rebirth. Revival. Renewal.

National Trust - Montacute HouseYale Center for British Art, Rawpixel

Calm As A Cucumber Era

The Elizabethan era was a relatively peaceful time in the history of England. The Wars of Roses had torn up the country for decades, but they finally ended in 1487.

Different families, specifically the House of York and the House of Lancaster, sought control of the crown for until finally a dark horse, Henry VII and his lineage, the House of Tudor, took control.

Henry VII would later have a granddaughter...named Elizabeth.

A sketch of a battle in Wars of RosesJames William Edmund Doyle, Wikimedia Commons

The Next War Began 40 Years Later

In 1527, Elizabeth's father Henry VIII wanted to annul a marriage, and the peace the kingdom enjoyed under his father ended. This period was known as The Reformation and involved massive conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants.

Portrait of King Henry VIII of EnglandRoyaltynow, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

A Period Of Peace

After the Wars of Roses and the Reformation—and before the English Civil War that began in 1642 and lasted nine years—very little strife took place.

With Elizabeth I at the helm, England mostly kept its nose out of international quarrels.

The age of the ReformationEichens, Fredrich Eduard, Wikimedia Commons

Downtime Deeds

While internal and external conflict was avoided, the country focused its efforts on building an impressive and commanding navy. Under Elizabeth I’s reign the British navy expanded to over 40 ships. And they were going to need every one.

Illustration of the galleass SalamanderAnthony Anthony, Wikimedia Commons

Second Only To The Spaniards

Thirty-four is a spectacular number of ships. It paled in comparison, however, to the Spanish Armada’s 132 ships. Every one of England’s vessels was smaller than Spain’s biggest ship.

English Ships and the Spanish ArmadaRoyal Museums Greenwich, Wikimedia Commons

Second And Yet…

Despite the enormous size of the Spanish convoy, Elizabeth I earned worldwide recognition when she defeated them.

The Spanish Armadalongplay, Flickr

How Did She Do It?

In 1588, the British navy packed eight ships full of flammable material, set them on fire and sent them in the direction of the Spanish Armada. Confused and having sliced their anchor cables, Spanish ships drifted and crashed into one another. Disaster ensued. 

Spanish Armada FireshipsNational Maritime Museum, Wikimedia Commons

Make Love Not War

Despite the naval victory, though, Elizabethan England wasn’t terribly concerned with matters of defence. Instead, they focused on music, literature and architecture. The Elizabethan Era was known as The Golden Age.

South View of LongleatYale Center for British Art, Rawpixel

Why The Golden Age?

What would make life seem “golden”? Elizabeth I’s subjects adored the fact that skirmishes were on the back burner while the arts were forefront. They were also excited by the “discovery” of new worlds.

Society in the reign of Elizabeth IMarcus Gheeraerts the Elder, Wikimedia Commons

England’s Overseas Empire Had Begun

England’s eyes were set on North America. Before Elizabeth I came to power, Britain was behind many other countries in terms of exploring and colonizing.

She set some new goals in motion which led to the eventual settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. British colonialism would not stop there.

Jamestown Settlement ShipsWikid77, Wikimedia Commons

Were The Times Really Golden?

This probably depends on your opinion. Do you mind a monarch who controls the media? Or what about using rags for toilet paper and peeing in the streets? What do you think of raucous laughing, excessive drinking, and archery?

Elizabethan Woman From The History Of EnglandBritish Library, Picryl

Media Control

Much like a 2024 Influencer, Elizabeth I’s image was very prudently crafted and controlled. She wanted the world to see her in a certain way.

Oil painting of Elizabeth ILove's Labour's Found - Philip Mould & Co. Image, Picryl

Snoopy Summer Scenes

Summertime for the Queen meant travels throughout and around her kingdom. This permitted her subjects to see her. It also meant she could snoop on what her nobles were doing.

Procession Portrait Of Elizabeth IRobert Peake the elder, Wikimedia Commons

Nothing Left To Chance

Upon her return to court in London’s Whitehall, her summer ventures were carefully recorded and distributed. These Elizabethan tabloids were very popular. Nothing was left to chance.

Great Chamber Fireplace, Plas MawrA.D.Hope, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Elizabeth I’s Media Image

It wasn’t only her travels that were meticulously formed. Any image allowed into the public was meant to exhibit “a beautiful, ageless queen”.

Colorful portrait of Queen Elizabeth IWikimedia Commons, Picryl

Why The Pale Face?

Elizabeth I was vain. She didn’t want the world to see her facial smallpox scars. To hide what she saw as flaws, she covered her face with heavy white paint called Venetian Ceruse. This mixture was extremely poisonous, and some historians believe it led to her demise.

Or it could have been her teeth that rotted black. But, she was so popular, fashionable people in England began dyeing their own teeth black to imitate her.

Queen Elizabeth II next to her throneWorkshop of Nicholas Hilliard, Wikimedia Commons

Back To Rags For TP

Would you consider it to be a Golden Age if you had to use cloth rags to wipe your butt?

Cloth Ragsshaireproductions.com, Flickr

Would You Miss Your Sewage System?

There was no public sewage system in Elizabethan England. 

In the Golden Age, poor folks used chamber pots. Or the street.

Chamber PotSalifu Wumpini Hussein, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Where Did You Pee If You Were Rich?

If you had money, you didn’t have to empty your bowels into a wood, metal, or porcelain bowl. Instead, you had the luxury of using a “closed stool”. This was a padded box with a hole on which you sat.

Toilet, Tower of LondonTrevor Huxham, World History

Elizabeth’s Godson Invented Something Pretty Cool

Speaking of latrines. In 1596, Elizabeth’s first godson, Sir John Harington, invented the first flushing water closet. Also known as a toilet. Pretty cool, right?

Elizabeth’s first godson, Sir John HaringtonCircle of Hieronimo Custodis, Wikimedia Commons

The Golden Age Of Drinking And Gambling

Do you hanker betting on animal fights and drinking lots and lots of malted barley ale? You might have fit right into Elizabethan times! That goes for bowling, wrestling, juggling, and blood sports as well.

Peasant Wedding Dance in Elizabethan periodPieter Brueghel the Younger, Wikimedia Commons

If Archery Is Your Thing

If archery is one of those pastimes that floats your boat, then you may dream of having lived during the Golden Age. According to the law, every male between 17 and 60 was required to have, and take care of, a bow.

Small Pellet CrossbowMetropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, Wikipedia Commons

Maybe Golden, Maybe Not

It’s up to you to decide whether 1558–1603 were times of great comfort and calm. Or whether they seem a little too grimy and violent. Historically, the period is considered to be a favorable and fortunate one.

Cecil Court of WardsUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

The End Of The Era

In 1603 Elizabeth I breathed her last. She was 69 years. At this stage England was thought to be one of the mightiest nations on earth.

Older portrait of Elizabeth IBerger Collection, Picryl

Still One Of The GOATS

It’s been over 400 years since Elizabeth I was in power. She’s still considered by many to be one of the best rulers in the history of England.

Queen Elizabeth I ('The Ditchley portrait')Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, Wikimedia Commons


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